CHAPTER 6: THE JOURNEY TO HOGWARTS (PART 1)
EXT. KING'S CROSS STATION – MORNING (SEPT. 1ST, 2118)
As the start of a new year at Hogwarts was fast approaching, a new generation of budding wizards and witches was coming to King's Cross Station for the very first time, including Albus's sister Lily and Albus's cousin Hugo. Once at King's Cross station, Harry and the rest of the parents helped unload the luggage that was to go with Albus and the rest of the children to Hogwarts. They quickly placed the luggage into luggage carts, looking around at everything that was in King's Cross Station, which, like always, was bustling with activity.
Albus quickly grabbed up Willowbree from the back seat of Ron's SUV and placed her in an animal cage so that she would be safe and wouldn't run off somewhere. Lily quickly grabbed the cage that her pet owl Featherbeak was in and lashed it onto the rest of her luggage, while James grabbed up his pet ferret Gisbourne and placed him in an animal cage, tying it to his own luggage cart. Gisbourne had came from the same litter of ferrets that Albus's dead pet ferret Belenus had come from and was named after Guy of Gisbourne from the fairy tale of Robin Hood. With their luggage now unloaded from the SUV, they started their way through the train station, going towards Platform Nine and Three Quarters, which was hidden from the eyes of Muggles.
The entrance to Nine and Three Quarters was made to look like one of the brick pillars of the train station, which would transport students and other magical folk alike to the platform where the Hogwarts Express would be waiting for them. Waiting at the pillar with the rest of the students that were going to Hogwarts this year, was Albus's grandparents Molly and Arthur Weasley, along with several other cousins of Albus who were going to Hogwarts.
"Grandma Molly!" cried Lily as she ran up to her grandmother, wrapping her arms around Molly's waist.
"Hello, my dear," said Molly, hugging Lily in return. Like most of those who were of the Weasley family, Molly had light skin and red, fiery hair. Molly wore a tan and purple tweed outfit and a purple tweed hat, making her look like a typical grandmother. By this time however, Molly and Arthur now had over fifteen grandchildren, all of which coming from their children, other than from their son Fred, who had died in the Battle of Hogwarts long ago.
While Lily was busy talking to her grandmother, Albus and James pushed their luggage carts up towards where they were standing, while Harry pushed Lily's luggage cart up and stopped. Ron and Hermione were following close behind, with Rose and Hugo pushing their luggage carts in toe.
Molly looked over at Albus and smiled, "Ready for your second year at Hogwarts, Albus dear?"
This was now the third time that Albus had been asked that question, which was starting to sound ominously like a skipped record. And like in the case of his father Harry and his Uncle Ron earlier, Albus replied, "I can't wait."
Unbeknownst to Albus and those with him however, the man in the black hooded cloak, which had talked to Albus in Diagon Alley earlier, was now standing and staring from afar at what was going on. Arthur Weasley soon called to everyone that was waiting at the pillar to get in a group in front of it. While Albus was bringing his luggage cart into the line, Albus noticed that his parents had pulled Ron, Hermione, Molly and Arthur over to a place where they wouldn't be overheard by Albus or the other children. After a moment or two, a stunned look fell upon the faces of everyone in the circle as they looked at one another and then back at Harry. It was as if Harry had just told them something that was utterly unbelievable and preposterous, but Harry was far from acting jokingly about it.
"I was wondering when father was going to tell them about that." said James, walking up behind Albus and looking on.
"About what, James?" said Albus, looking briefly at James and then back at his parents.
"About the rumor that Severus Snape might still be alive. Didn't you read the newspaper this morning?"
"I don't delight in reading the Daily Prophet like you do, James. And what do you mean there is a rumor that Severus Snape might still alive? Severus Snape is dead. Our dad watched Severus die in the Boathouse a long time ago."
"I know that, but there have been rumors coming from the North of England for the past few months, claiming that someone spotted Severus Snape...with a woman."
"But that's just mad, that is," said Hugo, butting in. "No woman in her right mind would want to be with brooding, sneering Severus Snape. And besides, Severus Snape is dead."
"I heard about those rumors to, Hugo," said Rose, butting in after, "But I also heard a great deal more. I heard that Severus Snape has been living in hiding ever since his supposed death and that he's married and with children."
"Now I know you're mental, Rose," scoffed Hugo, "If you have forgotten, Severus Snape hates children. And who would want him as a father? I'd be afraid of stepping out of line or talking out of turn. I'd probably go mad. In truth, I don't think Severus Snape was even capable of loving someone, let alone wanting and loving children."
"And what would you know about that, Hugo? Do you not remember what Uncle Harry told us about Professor Snape?" said Rose as Hugo scoffed once more and walked off.
Rose then looked back at Albus and continued, "And there's something else I have heard. I heard that Snape's wife is coming to Hogwarts and that she is going to be teaching Magical Archery to us."
"But that's just mental, Rose," said James, "If she's Snape's wife, why would she want to acknowledge herself?"
"She's the only known witch in the Wizarding world who knows about Magical Archery. And furthermore, it is suspected that she is a master of an ancient magic that has long since vanished, the ALPs."
"The Ancient Lost Practices? No way!" said James, "No wizard or witch these days is fully realized in the ALPs. That's impossible…and besides, such a magic is forbidden these days. And if anyone is trained in the ALPs, they can't tell anyone for fear that they might get into trouble. The ALPs are not something that you should trifle with I tell you!"
"Alright kids, it's time to line up in a row...come along now." yelled Arthur as he walked towards the pillar and stood. Then, one by one, Albus's cousins pushed their luggage carts towards the pillar. In an instant, one by one they vanished into the pillar in a sparkling haze of light. Soon, it was James's turn, who went charging towards the pillar like a valiant knight on a horse, yelling out something that a knight would say when charging towards an opponent. James always had a flare for the dramatic, which amused everyone who was watching to no end.
Before Albus went through the pillar, Harry and Ginny kneeled down to give Albus and hug and a hiss on the forehead, staring some final words with one another before it was Albus's turn to go through the pillar. Albus than turned and quickly ran towards the pillar, going through the pillar with his luggage cart in toe.
Once through the pillar, he soon found himself on a narrow platform which was bustling with the activity of witches, wizards and magical folk alike. Quickly, his eyes fell upon the sight of the Hogwarts Express, a large and majestic 460 steam-driven locomotive that was painted in a vibrant blood red color. The train itself, like the Minstry carts, The Knight Bus and the Wizarding Wireless Network, ran exclusively on magic.
It also burrowed its form and its intended function from real steam trains, but not the technology, appearing as though it ran on steam. The passenger carriages it pulled behind it held compartments that were set off a corridor and each of them were lettered, allowing each compartment to function as a self-contained stage within the larger train. Unlike most of the students, the Prefects of the school would ride in a separate carriage near the front of the train, being treated like students of privilege.
"Hey, look everyone. It's Harry Potter's son. Maybe we should curtsey or something." said a familiar voice near the entrance to the platform.
"Shut up, Scorpius, or I'll curse you again like last time!" snapped Albus, looking over at Scorpius Malfoy, who was standing along with his brother Lucifer and his sister Ursula, who were fraternal twins born only minutes apart. They, along with Scorpius, were the children of Draco Malfoy and Astoria Malfoy née Greengrass and like Albus's sister Lily, Ursula and Lucifer were going to Hogwarts for their first year. Scorpius was also a rival and bully to Albus, and like most of those of the Malfoy family, he had light skin and blond hair.
Scorpius walked up to Albus and got into his face, "I'd like to see you try, Potter. But you can't though, can you? To many people around here to tell your hero worshiped father on you. I bet you and your father delight in seeing others groveling at your feet and ordering them around."
"If that's what you think, Scorpius, then you're sadly mistaken. If anyone delights in groveling and ordering people around, it's you and your pathetic excuse for a wizard grandfather Lucius."
Scorpius got even further into Albus's face and hissed, "Is that a threat, Potter?"
"It might be," hissed Albus in return, glaring at Scorpius angrily and with utter contempt.
Soon, Albus's brother James stepped in and spoke, "Alright you two, break it up. Save it for the Quidditch pitch!"
Scorpius looked up at James and spoke once more as he walked off with Lucifer and Ursula, giving one more cold glance at Albus as he left, "Yes…lets!"
Albus gave an equally cold glance in return. James soon pulled Albus towards the other end of the platform. At the far end of the platform, Rose, Hugo and Lily were waiting for James and Albus, unaware that they were being watched by a pair of light skinned and mysterious looking children with black hair, watching Albus and the group with cold and mischievous eyes. Unbeknownst to the group however, these two were no ordinary students that were on their way to Hogwarts, but Cyrus and Evangeline Snape, Severus and Verena's twin children. They were both now old enough to go to school for their first year, having turned 11 years old during the summer.
And like Verena and Severus had suspected a long time ago, Cyrus had indeed inherited his father's cold black eyes, but also his father's shoulder-length black hair, which framed his face in curtains. Evangeline however, had inherited her mother's icy dark blue eyes but her father's black hair, which was long like her mother's and framed her face in curtains. Cyrus was also slowly developing his father's nose, a trait that was almost always passed down the Snape family through the men of the family. And just like their parents, both Cyrus and Evangeline were experienced Occlumens, showing their cold, bitter and sarcastic demeanors upon their faces.
As James helped load the luggage of everyone who was with him, Cyrus and Evangeline suddenly looked over and noticed that the man in the black hooded cloak was watching them. Upon seeing Cyrus and Evangeline, the man in the black hooded cloak bowed his head in acknowledgment and the twins bowed their heads in return. Another child soon appeared, only this child had dark, shoulder-length amber colored hair which framed his face in curtains and also had cold black eyes.
And just like the twins, he to was an experienced Occlumens and had the same cold, bitter and sarcastic demeanor. This boy's name was Darius Eldred-Alistair Snape, Severus's and Verena's youngest child. Darius was named after Darius Alexander-Teodors Dame Wolven, a favored older cousin of Verena's that had a Greek mother. Darius was only 9 years old and going on 10 in October, thus he was not due to go to Hogwarts until next year. This of course secretly bothered Darius, as he wanted to go to school with Cyrus and Evangeline. But due to his age, it was not possible. Like their parents, both Cyrus and Evangeline wore a woven braid in their hair, but they weren't white in color like their parent's woven braids were. Darius on the other hand, didn't wear a woven braid in his hair.
Darius walked over to Cyrus and Evangeline and hissed angrily, "This is embarrassing! My brother and sister going to Hogwarts School under the last name of Van Hartigan? We are not our parent's ancestors, we are Snapes! And it isn't like we couldn't be recognized as our father's children. We stick out like a sore thumb!"
"Mind your emotions, Darius, my brother. We are Occlumens," said Cyrus softly, his grim face and piercing black eyes looking over at Darius, "And besides, we have a Perception Spell cast over us. No one will ever notice."
"That's what you think, Cyrus," said Evangeline coolly, "What about Albus Potter? His perception hasn't been altered by the spell."
"Because Father doesn't want it to be. He wants Albus to recognize us as our Father's children, though heaven knows why."
Looking over at Albus, Darius paused a moment before speaking once more, "Could it be that Father wants Albus to recognize us as our Father's children so that he can tell Harry Potter that he is alive? Or is it because of the task that our parents want Albus and his friends to do?"
"I don't know, Darius," said Cyrus coolly, sounding mildly puzzled, "All I do know is that Father told us to watch over Albus and to give Albus what our Father wants him to have."
"Oh, that," said Evangeline, "Well, we better do it quickly then, when we have the chance."
"Yes, let's. Mother is probably waiting for us on the train by now, and Father should be coming along shortly. Come on, let's get on the train." said Cyrus, and with that, the trio crept along the length of the train and climbed onboard, keeping their eyes on Albus. The man in the black hooded cloak soon followed them on the train soon after.
INT. HOGWARTS CASTLE, FIRST FLOOR CORRIDOR – LATE EVENING (MAY. 26TH, 2007)
Of course, Joseph Bobscandel knew exactly what he was going to be doing as he quietly stepped out through the door to the Ravenclaw Common Rooms and out into the corridor beyond it. He was on his way to Hagrid's Hut, having gotten word from Hagrid earlier that he had found an egg of 'mysterious origin'. In truth however, this was just the type of excuse for Joseph to break the school rules and go visit Hagrid at his hut to see if he could identify the type of egg that Hagrid had found.
Though Joseph wasn't the only student in Hogwarts who was actively studying the various types of eggs of magical creatures, Joseph was the only student, apart from Tristan and Daniela, who was willing to come to Hagrid's Hut at the risk of being caught by Hadramus Fletcher, the night hall-walker. Hadramus's job was simple: To maintain the upkeep of the castle itself. Joseph knew that if he was ever caught out of bed in the middle of the night, he would surely get a thorough lecture, not just from Professor Dresdale, but from Fletcher as well.
Knowing Fletcher like Joseph and the other students for that matter did, if anyone was to be considered not human, it was Hadramus Fletcher hands down. Hadramus Fletcher was of House Slytherin and was considered to be one of the most disliked and unpleasant people at school and if given a choice between Fletcher and Snape, Joseph would much rather be caught by Snape then by Fletcher any day.
Knowing Fletcher's methods of punishment, Joseph would most likely be made to dig out the scat pit behind the Hippogriff stables, which was considered one of the worst punishments that could be given to a student at Hogwarts. Furthermore, Hadramus's appearance was even more squalid looking then Argus Filch (the previous night hall-walker and caretaker of the castle) ever was, even on his worst days. To Joseph, Hadramus was akin to something like a lonely and wreathed beast with long, stringy hair that only half washed off after a dust bath and Fletcher's pale skin made him look even more unpleasant.
Sure, Fletcher's face and hands always seemed to be clean and seemed to smell clean, but Joseph couldn't say that for the rest of Fletcher. But as had always been the case, Joseph's curiosity had greatly gotten the better of him. Bringing out his wand in the pitch blackness of the corridor, Joseph whispered very softly, "Lumos..."
This produced a brilliant blue light which shown brightly from the tip of his wand. Quietly and cautiously, he walked down the long, dark corridor towards the back entrance to the school, creeping past sleeping portraits of long dead wizard's and witches alike, including a portrait of Fred Weasley, who was quietly sitting in an armchair in his portrait with his arms crossed and his eyes closed.
Of course, it didn't take much to wake Fred Weasley up when mischief was involved. Furthermore, Fred knew who Joseph was and knew that whenever Joseph was involved in something, it almost always had something to do with mischief or trouble making.
"Psssst, Joseph," whispered Fred suddenly from his portrait, causing Joseph to stop and look back at him. "Where do you think you're going?" whispered Fred mischievously.
"Why would you want to know? You can't come anyway," hissed Joseph, bringing his wand up close to the front of Fred's portrait. "It's none of your business."
"Oh, come on, Joseph," whispered Fred out through the front of his portrait, with a mischievous grin running across his face. "I like mischief! Going off to see Hagrid again are we? I heard that he found a mysterious egg."
"That's just what he said, Fred, it doesn't mean that it's true," whispered Joseph, "And besides, he's the Hogwarts game keeper for pity sake. He should know what everything that involves magical creatures are. If I know Hagrid, he's got something important for me to do."
"Like what?" asked Fred, who was becoming more curious by the minute.
"Well, I don't know!" hissed Joseph, "And stop asking me such silly questions! Anyway, I've got to go now so don't tell anyone that I'm out of bed! Good night!"
But just as Joseph was turning to continue down the corridor, Fred spoke once more, "I wouldn't go down that way then if I were you."
"And why not?" asked Joseph, looking back at Fred once more. Fred began shifting his eyes and looking around him before he gestured Joseph closer to his portrait and got up from his armchair, kneeling down closer to the front of his portrait as though he was trying not to be overheard by anyone else but Joseph. Joseph once again held his wand up close to the front of Fred's portrait so that he could see Fred clearly in the light from his wand.
"I've been noticing something strange lately," whispered Fred, who continued to look around him nervously, "You do realize that there isn't any way for a person who dwells within the portraits to actually step out of their portrait and walk among the living don't you?"
"Is this a trick question?" said Joseph, shifting his eyes briefly and then glaring on at Fred.
"No, seriously, hear me out," whispered Fred once more as he tried to look down one end of the corridor and then down the other end before looking back at Joseph again. "There's something strange going on around here. Yesterday, while I was wandering around in the portraits, I noticed that strange woman that Professor Snape is hanging out with wandering about."
"So what? Everyone in the portraits wanders about now and again. That's something those who dwell in the portraits do." said Joseph, who was starting to worry that he might be caught out of bed.
"No, you don't understand," said Fred, shifting his eyes back and forth down towards both ends of the corridor once more before looking back at Joseph once more. "She was wandering about outside of the portraits!"
Suddenly, Joseph fell silent and looked at Fred as though Fred had gone mad. Suddenly, Joseph began to hear footsteps slowly coming towards him down the corridor.
"Put your light out Joseph! Quickly, before they see you!" whispered Fred frantically as he stood up again and quickly went back to his armchair as if he was frightened to be seen talking to Joseph by some still unseen presence.
"They?" whispered Joseph, who felt so sure that the footsteps that he was hearing belonged to Hadramus Fletcher and no one else.
But Fred was insistent, "Do it…now!" At that moment, Joseph whispered "Nox…" causing the light from the tip of his wand to cease shinning, turning everything around him pitch dark again. Joseph then noticed something strange. The footsteps had suddenly stopped and everything became ominously quiet, until - tap, tap, tap, tap, tap.
The footsteps had continued on, slowly but steadily, coming down the corridor towards Joseph in the pitch blackness - tap, tap, tap, tap, tap - becoming louder and more refined after every step - tap, tap, tap, tap, tap. To Joseph, it sounded like the footsteps of a man who wore leather soled shoes. But the footsteps had a subtle but noticeable uniqueness to them, a very soft metallic tapping sound to them that Joseph never heard in Fletcher's footsteps.
The footsteps sounded as though the person who was making them was very much aware of their surroundings, but was not at all scared or hesitant about walking down a very dark corridor in the middle of the night. There was even a hint of fearlessness buried within the sound of the footsteps. To Joseph, this was a sign that whoever was coming down the corridor towards him was someone who was not going to be easily deterred or distracted, or in other words, they were going to be trouble for Joseph.
Joseph began to get nervous as the footsteps came ever closer, closer until they suddenly stopped once more, as if only five feet away from him. For all that Joseph knew, whoever or whatever it was, was now standing right in front of him, waiting for the opportunity to frighten him into a panic and make him run away down the corridor in the opposite direction.
Of course, within the pitch blackness, Joseph couldn't see anything in front of him, which made his situation even more unnerving. Though this was swiftly remedied when a brilliant burst of blue light suddenly broke through the blackness in front of Joseph, causing Joseph to gasp and jump with fright slightly. The light was coming from the tip of another wizard's wand, but was a light that was not conjured up by no ordinary wizard, as Joseph would soon discover.
There, standing before him in the light of their wand, was a man that Joseph would have never imagined seeing outside of a portrait, Severus Snape. For a moment, Joseph thought that he was seeing a ghost, but as Severus took a half step closer, glaring at Joseph with a mild look of surprise on his face and saying nothing, it became clear to both of them that they were not seeing things.
Unable to grasp what he was seeing, Joseph quickly dashed back down the corridor in the opposite direction, running away from Severus as fast as he could. Joseph quickly ran back into the Ravenclaw Common Rooms, clearly shaken, panting and frightened out of his wits. Joseph could not believe who he had just seen and quickly felt the need to tell someone.
INT. HOGWARTS, THE HEADMASTER'S OFFICE - MORNING (MAY 27TH, 2007)
The next morning, word began to spread throughout the castle about Severus Snape being spotted outside the portraits by a student, namely Joseph, and soon, Vadamus Titch was asking Severus Snape to come to the Headmaster's Office to be asked some questions about what happened last night. As Severus appeared and walked through the portraits in the Headmaster's Office towards an empty portrait that had been set aside for him, others in the portraits continued to listen and look on with both curiosity and suspicion. Soon, Severus stopped and looked out through the portraits and into the Headmaster's office, where he soon spotted Joseph, who was sitting in an armchair in front of Titch's desk. Severus eyed Joseph coolly as he walked into the empty portrait and sat down in the armchair that was within it.
Severus soon spoke, "You wished to see me, Headmaster?"
"Indeed, Severus," said Titch politely, but Joseph wouldn't take his eyes off Snape, not for a second. Joseph continued to glare at Severus anxiously as the conversation continued.
"There has been a claim brought against you by a student who says that they had spotted you wandering the corridors last night outside of the portraits," said Titch, looking on and smiling. "I have since told this student that it was utterly impossible."
"Indeed, Headmaster. I have never heard of such a ridiculous thing before," said Severus softly and nonchalantly, clearly unconcerned by what he was hearing. "No person within the portraits can step out of their portrait and walk about in the world of the living. Only ghosts can do that and I am clearly not a ghost."
"Indeed. But this student was most insistent that what he saw was not a figment of his imagination. He has also since told me that another person from the portraits has been wandering about the corridors at night outside of the portraits and that Fred Weasley can confirm this."
"Really, Headmaster, do you honestly believe in such a preposterous accusation? It sounds...impossible..." - Severus paused and looked at Joseph briefly before looking back at Titch, speaking nonchalantly once more, "Perhaps the boy consumed something that was causing him to hallucinate? Something from my old storerooms of potions and herbs perhaps? There are plenty of items in there that can cause one to see things."
"I can confirm that this student has no trace of mind-altering potion or chemical in his system."
"Then he and Fred Weasley are obviously making up lies to gain attention. And you know how Fred is, he is after all...a Weasley. It's also possible that my past reputation with the students could also be playing a part in this as well, you never know."
"That is indeed true, Severus. But I have heard of the story about the Window of Auradinthia, an enchanted picture frame which is said to allow those who have died once to enter the world of the portraits and step out of it again. That is the closet thing I could think of to explain why this student claimed to have seen you in the corridor last night. Of course, the person would have to be what is called a Once-Dead in order for it to work, and therefore would most certainly be alive, and therefore makes the student's claim not only possible, but plausible."
"I heard of that story to, Headmaster. It is just a story, an ancient legend that was past down through my family long ago. And chances are, such a picture frame wouldn't exist anymore, if it ever existed at all. Will that be all, Headmaster?"
Titch looked at Joseph, then back at Severus before speaking softly towards Severus once more, "Yes, Severus...for now. You may go."
"Thank-you, Headmaster." said Severus, and with that, Severus left the empty portrait and walked off, giving one final cold look at Joseph before disappearing back into the rest of the portraits once more.
Titch looked back at Joseph as Joseph spoke anxiously once more, "He's lying, sir. I know he is. I saw him with my own eyes. He was standing right in front of me...literally right in front of me. He startled me and made me run back to my Common Rooms in terror...sir, you must believe me, I would have never made something like this up!"
"It's alright, Joseph. You don't need to say anymore," said Titch, raising a hand in reassurance and bringing it down again. He then stood up from behind his desk and walked around it to the front. "But the evidence you bring here is very little and inconclusive. You're claim may or may not be true, Joseph. But for now, I strongly recommend that you stay within your Common Rooms and out of the corridors at night and I advise that you don't go looking for Severus Snape after you leave, even if you do know the truth and have a need to reveal it...off you go now."
And with that, Joseph nodded his head and stood up, turning and walking towards the door to the Headmaster's Office. Just before walking out the door, Joseph looked back, only to see Titch wave at him. Joseph then looked forward again and vanished beyond the door as it closed behind him. Titch then brought his hand down and spoke, "For the truth may bare consequences that could be more disastrous then one could possibly ever imagine."
Titch then went around his desk and sat down behind it once more, listening to the old grandfather clock chime in a corner behind him.
CONTINUED…CHAPTER 7...